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Learn How to Find the top Sports Chiropractor in Boulder, CO

Looking for a top sports chiropractor in Boulder, CO? Here’s what types of sports-related injuries we typically treat.

We can all agree – sports, whether you’re playing or watching, can be a highlight of everyone’s day! However, one of those options is slighty riskier than the other. Did you know, every year, there are more than 3.5 million sports related injuries? With so many of us playing sports and exercising recreationally, it’s no wonder that the number of injuries is so high.

Sports are a great way to stay in shape and have fun, but they can also be dangerous. We’re here to help you learn about the most common injuries that a sports chiropractor in Boulder CO sees and what you can do for possible treatment. We even have a team of recreational athletes here at Boulder Back Pain Clinic, so we will also provide some tips on how to avoid these injuries.

Sprains and Strains

One of the most common sports injuries we see are sprains and strains. A sprain happens when a ligament is overstretched, while strains occur when a muscle or tendon is torn. Ankles and wrists are prone to sprains, while the back and hamstrings can strain easily.

If you have a sprain or strain, you’ll notice painful swelling around the area, and it can be difficult to participate in your sport. Since the swelling is due to inflammation, a we usually execute joint adjustments to ensure the areas receive proper blood flow. Once we adjust the joint, we will recommend some stretches to help your recovery.

Ankle Injuries

Ankle sprains are one of the most common sports related injuries. If you’ve ever sprained your ankle, you know how hard it is to even limp off the field after this. Symptoms of a sprained ankle are pain, swelling, and bruising (around the injury site, and perhaps also your ego).

Treatment for a sprained ankle includes rest, ice, compression, and elevation (known as RICE). Our job is to aid in treatment by realigning the bones and help reduce inflammation.

Preventing ankle injuries starts with wearing the right shoes for the sport you are playing. Make sure your shoes fit well and provide support for your ankles. There’s a reason why basketball shoes extend up toward the ankle. If you are playing on an uneven surface, be careful to watch for holes in the ground or things to trip over so you can avoid twisting your ankle. Strengthening the muscles around your ankles can also help to prevent injuries.

Knee Injuries

Not only can a knee injury be caused by a variety of factors, but if left untreated, it can require extensive surgery to fully heal. Knee injuries can also impact every part of your life, not just the athletic parts. That’s why it’s so important to take good care of knee injuries. The knees consist of three bones, cartilage, and joints. Since there are so many moving pieces, there is a lot that can go wrong.

Visiting a sports injury chiropractor in Boulder CO, like us, can help your knee issues without needing to resort to surgery. We pair specific forms of manipulation with targeted exercises that will help alleviate pain and improve your knees’ range of motion.

Hip Injuries

We all generally know what a hip is, but here are the mechanics of this vital part of mobility. The hip is a ball-and-socket joint that allows the leg to move in many directions. The socket is formed by the pelvis, and the ball is at the top of the thigh bone. A layer of cartilage covers the surface of both the ball and socket, providing a smooth, low-friction surface for movement.

There are several different types of sports related hip injuries, but some of the most common include:

Fractures: A break in any part of the hip bone is a fracture. These are caused by a direct blow to the hip or by falling onto a hard surface. The bone could crack with the impact, which is just as painful as it sounds.

Dislocations: A dislocation occurs when the ball portion of the hip joint pops out of its socket. These happen because of a fall, a direct blow, or twisting motions. It’s also very painful.

Bursitis: Bursitis is usually caused by overuse and is an inflammation of the bursa. The bursa is a fluid filled sac that acts as a lubricant between tendon and tendon, or tendon and bone.

Tendinitis: This is an inflammation of the tendons around the hip joint and is caused by repetitive motions.

Bursitis and tendinitis can be treated conservatively. Treatment for sports related hip injuries will vary depending on the type and severity of the injury. Fractures and dislocations will usually require surgery to repair the damage. Here, we use various physical therapy modalities, procedures, and techniques to treat the soft tissue injuries. 

Tennis Elbow

Have you ever been sitting at your desk on your computer and thought to yourself, “wow, my bent elbows are killing me!” Repetitive motions, or repetitively stressing the tendons (like when you play tennis), can cause tennis elbow. An athlete is more prone to tennis elbow if they do a lot of repetitive, forceful motions using the hand, wrist, elbow, and arm. The elbow is a delicate weight-bearing joint and is susceptible to injury from overuse or repetitive motion. 

Sports-related elbow injuries can range from mild to severe, and can often be treated with ice, rest, and over-the-counter pain medication. More severe elbow injuries may require physical therapy or surgery, but let’s not worry about that right now. Our plan of action would be to order an x-ray to see if there is any damage to the bones or ligaments and give you a specific plan to heal your injury.

Using anti-inflammatory medicine will help for a short while, but that only treats the symptoms, not the problem. We will want to take a look at the area and diagnose where the dysfunctions are. From there, we will make some adjustments to alleviate the dysfunctions.

If you think you may have an elbow injury, it is important to see a doctor or sports injury chiropractor in Boulder, CO for an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan. Elbow injuries, like all injuries we see through doors, should be properly treated and should never be ignored.

Brain Injuries

This type of injury is not one that we deal with here, but should be brought up. Brain injuries are one of the most serious types of injuries that can occur during any type of sport. Concussions are the most common type of sports-related brain injury and can range from mild to severe.

Concussion symptoms are not always immediately apparent, so it is very important to see a medical professional if you think you may have one. Symptoms can include headache, ringing in the ears, nausea, distorted vision, and drowsiness.

Brain injuries can have long-lasting effects, so it is important to take precautions to prevent them from occurring in the first place. Wearing protective gear, such as helmets and mouthguards, can also help reduce the risk of sustaining a brain injury. We care about your brain, so make sure you’re protecting it from the wild world of contact sports.

Our Advice on Preventing Sports-Related Injuries

With golfers, hockey players, figure skaters, and other athletes on our team, we’ve come up with a list of tried and true methods to keeping ourselves safe and uninjured.

Find a Sports Chiropractor in Boulder, CO today!

If you’ve experienced any of these sports related injuries, or have a pesky joint that doesn’t seem to let you jump as high as you used to, don’t hesitate to contact us for help. Chiropractic care is a type of alternative medicine that focuses on diagnosis and treatment of mechanical disorders of the musculoskeletal system, especially the spine. As Boulder chiropractors, we believe that these disorders affect general health via the nervous system.

We will perform a physical exam, take a health history, and may use lab tests or diagnostic imaging to make a diagnosis. Once we have made a diagnosis, we’ll develop and carry out a treatment plan. This will usually involve adjustments to the spine as well as other joints, muscles, and connective tissue.

The sports chiropractors at Boulder Back Pain Clinic in CO are experienced in helping people get back on their feet as quickly as possible. We use a variety of healing exercises including chiropractic adjustments, shockwave therapy, soft tissue therapy, acupuncture, and many more. Schedule an appointment with us today to find out how we can help you!

Malana L.

I've been seeing Dr. Cahn for over 3 years now and love that he is relaxed, genuine, and personal.  He has helped resolve issues with my neck, low back, and hip. I go in for the treatment, but it's probably the great conversations we have that keep me coming back!

Mike D.

Dr. Guzik is awesome. He's knowledgeable, affable, and passionate about wellness. He has a natural, easygoing way with patients that will put you right at ease. I have only great things to say about this practice and Dr. Guzik!

Amy M.

Both Dr. Cahn and Dr. Guzik are highly knowledgeable and skilled in providing excellent care to their patients. They were instrumental in getting me through an injury to be able to compete competitively in triathlon this season. I would highly recommend them to anyone needing high level chiropractic care!

Book an appointment today!